Mather
PearMather
Origin and History
The Mather pear originated with John Mather of Jenkintown (also spelled Jenkinstown), Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, from a seed planted by him about 1810. It was listed in the American Pomological Society Report as early as 1856, and described by Downing in 1869.
Tree
A moderate grower. Young wood is olive grayish brown.
Fruit
Size and Form: Below medium. Downing describes the shape as roundish ovate; Hedrick describes it as obovate — the two descriptions are in mild conflict on this point.
Skin: Downing gives the ground color as greenish yellow with a slight blush in the sun and many minute brown dots across the surface. Hedrick describes the color as yellow, with occasionally a red mottled cheek, and notes russeting at the insertion of the stem — a detail not mentioned by Downing.
Stem: Short and stout (Downing).
Calyx: Open (Downing).
Flesh: White (Downing). Both sources agree the texture is somewhat coarse — Downing says "a little coarse," Hedrick "rather coarse." The two sources conflict on juiciness and character: Downing describes the flesh as not juicy, sweet, and pleasant; Hedrick describes it as buttery, of delicate flavor, and agreeable. The "buttery" quality noted by Hedrick is notable given Downing's characterization of it as not juicy.
Quality: Good (both sources).
Season
August.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
View original book sources (2)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Mather.
Originated with John Mather, near Jenkinstown, Montgomery Co., Pa. Tree a moderate grower. Young wood olive grayish brown.
Fruit below medium, roundish ovate, greenish yellow, slight blush in sun, and many minute brown dots. Stalk short, stout. Calyx open. Flesh white, a little coarse, not juicy, sweet, pleasant. Good. August.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Mather.
- Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt. 82. 1856.
- Downing Fr. Trees Am. 815. 1869.
The Mather pear originated with John Mather, Jenkintown, Pa., from seed planted by him about 1810. Fruit below medium, obovate, yellow, with occasionally a red mottled cheek and russeted at the insertion of the stem; flesh rather coarse, buttery, of delicate flavor and agreeable; good; Aug.